When colocation provider Equinix announced that they were trialing fuel cell technology in their data center in Frankford they also brought attention to a provider of fuel cell technology with a much different take on the business than that commonly associated with the technology as it is provided by well-known players such as Bloom Energy.

German fuel cell provider N2telligence builds fuel cell systems that take advantage of the way that fuel cell technology works in order to provide fire prevention technology on appropriately configured datacenters. Their QuattroGeneration fuel cells are designed to reduce the level of oxygen or increase the level of nitrogen in the air in the datacenter. Either technique has the benefit of reducing the chance of fire. The system is self-monitoring and allows the user to set the levels of oxygen appropriate for the environment. This self-monitoring allows for the technique to be applied not to just tightly-sealed rooms but also to locations more open to outside air. The percentage of oxygen available is reduced by the addition of nitrogen-rich air generated by the fuel cell.

The fuel cells can generate sufficient power to operate the data center and run cooling and heating. The Equinix installation, for example, will provide up to 800,000 kW hours of electricity a year, and 600,000 kWh of self-produced heat or cooling capacity.

With more than 20 years of published writings about technology, as well as industry stints as everything from a database developer to CTO, David Chernicoff has earned the term "veteran" in the technology world. Currently the principal of an independent consulting business and an active freelance writer, David has most recently been a Seni...
Full Bio

Disclosure

David does not invest in the technology he covers. As a freelance author and technologist he has had contract work with many vendors in the industry. Beyond the term of these short-term contracts there is no business or fiduciary arrangement with any technology vendor. David does not enter into contracts that would limit his freedom of expression in any way, nor is he remunerated for discussing any vendor. All comments in his blog writings are solely the opinions of David Chernicoff.